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Author Topic: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?  (Read 16209 times)

Offline Miracles

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What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« on: December 08, 2006, 08:54:38 PM »
Just curious as to what most churches are paying their organist... I may need to hire one from away from home if I can't find one close.

Offline BimmerFan99

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2006, 09:52:44 PM »
I say it depends on your expectations.
Do you want your organist to attend rehearsals? How many and how long each?
What level and style of music are you looking for the organist to play?
Should the organist play by ear or be able to read or both?
How long is your service?

Higher expectations and more time means more $$.

Offline musicaldea

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2006, 08:39:45 PM »
Good Evening,
I am the MOM and organist for my church and this is my schedule.  I play for 3 services on Sunday 8, 11,6 and Tuesday night Youth Choir Rehearsal at 6:00 and service at 7:00.  Then on Sat. I have Praise Team Rehearsal at 10:30, Adult Choir at 12:00 and Male Chorus
at 2:30.  2 Friday night services or any extra service like revivals or outside church engagements.  $150.00 per week.  Have been with this church 4 years and started with $125.00 week and got raise last year.

Deacon Bagwell

Offline organplayer2

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2006, 03:23:55 PM »
It depends on a lot of things. Mainly the size of the Church and their expectations.So there is no "going rate".I have been playing 20yrs and i play for one service and make $600 a wk. Large church that is moving into a new Santuary.They pay me for my experience and my commitment to every choir in the Church (4).And we have a music depatrment ,not just Choirs.

Offline Mysteryman

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2006, 09:23:23 AM »
I say it depends on your expectations.
Do you want your organist to attend rehearsals? How many and how long each?
What level and style of music are you looking for the organist to play?
Should the organist play by ear or be able to read or both?
How long is your service?

Higher expectations and more time means more $$.


Also the region you are in and the church size. I think the average is.

$0-100 Beginner
$100-$350 Intermediate
$350-1000+ Advanced
Vision without action is just day dreaming. I miss practicing.

Offline KurzLand

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2006, 12:29:51 AM »
"Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him." -A.Huxley

Offline Mysteryman

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2006, 02:31:39 PM »
As far as I know those numbers are up north, out west coast, and mega churches in the local area. Very few people here are getting paid like that.
Vision without action is just day dreaming. I miss practicing.

Offline diverse379

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2006, 04:30:33 PM »
Also the region you are in and the church size. I think the average is.

$0-100 Beginner
$100-$350 Intermediate
$350-1000+ Advanced

I like this breakdown

The first concern is how much can your church afford
you dont want to burdern your church with too high of a music bill
although important it is best if you are a growing church to get a growing musician
if you are established and want to grow your ministry then you may pay a little more thenyou want to in hopes that the music will draw people in (the reality is that that is one of the purposes of the music ministry a call to the lost as well as edification of the people in the congregation)-

but to go further with this you also pay for versatility some musicains can play traditional really well but cant really make contemporary sound any more then a traditional song with some fred hammond lyrics over it

and some contemp musicians cant get old time church on a mother

-so you pay also for the diversity of the musician
can he read can he also play by ear
can he play latin blues funk east coast west cosast midwest does he make the music sound like the record or does every song sound the same

can he play organ and piano
can he play pipe

does he have his own board that he will bring to enhance the music

can he play in every key
can he play in more then one key
if he cant he may embarrass you when you go visit the church with just a piano and the debvotional leader who sings in the key of B

can he play worship music as well as devotional and praise

can he set the atmosphere

can he teach and train choirs

can he sing and lead a song

how is he with funerals

how is his walk with God

how is he with working with others


all of these things make for the consideration of a musician

the more he or she brings to the table the better
a musician who can usher in the spirit capture the vision of the pastor and overall do allthe above duties is worthy of his hire

To be or not to be that is the question you anwer when you pray practice and read your word

Offline key-wiz

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2006, 01:32:06 AM »
I like this breakdown

The first concern is how much can your church afford
you dont want to burdern your church with too high of a music bill
although important it is best if you are a growing church to get a growing musician
if you are established and want to grow your ministry then you may pay a little more thenyou want to in hopes that the music will draw people in (the reality is that that is one of the purposes of the music ministry a call to the lost as well as edification of the people in the congregation)-

but to go further with this you also pay for versatility some musicains can play traditional really well but cant really make contemporary sound any more then a traditional song with some fred hammond lyrics over it

and some contemp musicians cant get old time church on a mother

-so you pay also for the diversity of the musician
can he read can he also play by ear
can he play latin blues funk east coast west cosast midwest does he make the music sound like the record or does every song sound the same

can he play organ and piano
can he play pipe

does he have his own board that he will bring to enhance the music

can he play in every key
can he play in more then one key
if he cant he may embarrass you when you go visit the church with just a piano and the debvotional leader who sings in the key of B

can he play worship music as well as devotional and praise

can he set the atmosphere

can he teach and train choirs

can he sing and lead a song

how is he with funerals

how is his walk with God

how is he with working with others


all of these things make for the consideration of a musician

the more he or she brings to the table the better
a musician who can usher in the spirit capture the vision of the pastor and overall do allthe above duties is worthy of his hire



Very Good Points ;)
Abracadabra!!!! "Key-Wiz" The Magic Of Music

Offline 2tight

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #9 on: December 17, 2006, 08:40:03 PM »
Very Good Points ;)

I agree with u.I play for 4 choirs and a paise team.Also i play for sunday school and funerals.
Shannon moore

T_Keys

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #10 on: December 17, 2006, 09:10:16 PM »
I play 2 services, 3 rehearsals, make $50 A WEEK...

They cannot afford to pay me more, but this church is where I feel called.

I play for other churches too, but my first commitment is to my $50 a week church.

Offline brownie97

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2006, 02:05:39 PM »
you all have made some great points
and i really agree with all of you

Offline Wash

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #12 on: December 22, 2006, 11:11:16 AM »
Very well said.

Offline rpking

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #13 on: December 28, 2006, 08:25:30 PM »
I like this breakdown

The first concern is how much can your church afford
you dont want to burdern your church with too high of a music bill
although important it is best if you are a growing church to get a growing musician
if you are established and want to grow your ministry then you may pay a little more thenyou want to in hopes that the music will draw people in (the reality is that that is one of the purposes of the music ministry a call to the lost as well as edification of the people in the congregation)-

but to go further with this you also pay for versatility some musicains can play traditional really well but cant really make contemporary sound any more then a traditional song with some fred hammond lyrics over it

and some contemp musicians cant get old time church on a mother

-so you pay also for the diversity of the musician
can he read can he also play by ear
can he play latin blues funk east coast west cosast midwest does he make the music sound like the record or does every song sound the same

can he play organ and piano
can he play pipe

does he have his own board that he will bring to enhance the music

can he play in every key
can he play in more then one key
if he cant he may embarrass you when you go visit the church with just a piano and the debvotional leader who sings in the key of B

can he play worship music as well as devotional and praise

can he set the atmosphere

can he teach and train choirs

can he sing and lead a song

how is he with funerals

how is his walk with God

how is he with working with others


all of these things make for the consideration of a musician

the more he or she brings to the table the better
a musician who can usher in the spirit capture the vision of the pastor and overall do allthe above duties is worthy of his hire



You nailed it, man.  A musician who can do all of those things deserves a salary.....at LEAST $55K/year. That's how the musicians in the Bible got paid......enough so that they wouldn't have to work anywhere else.......

T_Keys

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #14 on: December 29, 2006, 12:12:12 AM »
That's how the musicians in the Bible got paid......enough so that they wouldn't have to work anywhere else.......

That is exactly what some people need to hear, LOL!

Offline stephen1911

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #15 on: December 29, 2006, 06:27:01 PM »
I get $250 per week

Offline pianoear2

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #16 on: December 29, 2006, 06:34:45 PM »
hey rpking where in the bible does it say something about musicians in the bible days getting paid?

Offline Mysteryman

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #17 on: December 29, 2006, 11:07:43 PM »
hey rpking where in the bible does it say something about musicians in the bible days getting paid?

The levites who took care of the temple live from the tithes and sacrifices of the people. Singers and musicians were levites.
Vision without action is just day dreaming. I miss practicing.

Offline diverse379

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #18 on: December 30, 2006, 06:16:03 AM »
hey rpking where in the bible does it say something about musicians in the bible days getting paid?

and dont forget a workman is worthy of his hire

and donr forget chronicles read chronicles
To be or not to be that is the question you anwer when you pray practice and read your word

Offline Starlingj

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Re: What's the "going" rate to pay a church organist?
« Reply #19 on: December 30, 2006, 06:40:21 AM »
I use this as a guide.http://www.agohq.org/home.html

On the page you will see salary guide.

 Be Blessed.

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